Prevalence of nosocomial infection in critically ill patients with abdominal pathology

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

• Bacterial infections pose a significant challenge in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Understanding the prevalence and patterns of nosocomial infections is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Surgical ICUs are particularly vulnerable due to the critical condition of patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of nosocomial infections in a surgical intensive care unit.
• To identify the most common types of nosocomial infections.
• To characterize the microbial agents and their resistance patterns.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study conducted over 5 months in a surgical ICU.
• Data collection on patient demographics, comorbidities, and infection types.
• Microbiological analysis of common pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Main Results:

• Mechanical ventilation-associated pneumonitis was the most prevalent nosocomial infection.
• Older patients, those with organ system failure, and comorbidities were at higher risk.
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most frequently isolated and resistant organism.

Conclusions:

• Nosocomial infections, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia, are a significant concern in surgical ICUs.
• Risk stratification for infection should consider patient age, organ failure, and comorbidities.
• Effective antibiotic stewardship is essential due to the prevalence of resistant organisms like E. coli.